Valve assembly



POWERS VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed April 28, 1930 i INVE'NTOR #225043 pan/6,5

ATTORNEYS I Patented July 3, 1934 PATENT; OFFICE VALVE ASSEMBLY MiltonA. Powers, Detroit, Mich assignor to The Timken Silent AutomaticCompany, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application April 28,1930, Serial No. 448,131

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valve.

assemblies comprising a plurality of valve units and has particularreference to improved means for actuating said units.

5 The invention, while capable of many and diversified uses, findsparticular utility when used in connection with fluid burner systems forcontrolling the fiow of fuel from the supply side of the system to thedistributing side thereof and has as one of its principal objects toprovide an efficient, compact and unitary valve assembly foraccomplishing the above purpose which lends itself to economicalmanufacture owing to the comparatively few parts involved and to theexpedient manner in which the same may be assembled and installed.

A further advantageous feature of this invention which contributesmaterially to the reduction in cost of manufacture and to the efficiencythereof resides in the provision of a valve assembly comprising a seriesof valve members cooperating to control communication from the fluidsupply side of the system to the distributing side thereof together withmeans for simultaneously and automatically actuating the valve members.

With the foregoing as well as other objects in view, the inventionresides in the peculiar construction of the valve assembly and theactuating means therefor which will be made more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure-1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a fuel burner system withwhich my improved valve assembly is adapted to be used.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a valve assembly constructed inaccordance with this invention, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be noted that there is illustrateddiagrammatically in Figure 1 a liquid fuel burner system of the gravityfeed type including a burner 10 driven by a suitable electric motor 11and communicating with a fluid supply reservoir 12 by means of a supplyconduit 13 and a distributing conduit 14. The outlet for the liquid inthe reservoir 12 is preferably positioned above the fluid inlet to theburner 10 with the result that the fluid in the reservoir flows to theburner by gravity.

In fluid burner systems of the type specified above, it is highlyessential that means be provided for closing communication between thefluid reservoir and burner when operation of the latter is discontinuedor, in other words, when the circuit to the electric motor 11 is broken.The foregoing is accomplished in the present instance by providing aunitary valve assembly 15 comprising generally a plurality, herein shownfor the purpose of illustration as two, valve members 16 and 17 normallyurged to a position wherein communication between the fluid reservoirand burner is closed by the action of gravity. The valve assembly 15 isfurther provided with electro-magnetic means 18 connected to theelectric circuit to the motor so as to be controlled thereby andarranged in the assembly above the valve members 16 and 17 for movingthe same to open position wherein communication between the reservoir 12and burner 11 is established. The arrangement is such that upon breakingthe circuit to the motor 11, the electro-magnetic means 18 isimmediately de-energized permitting the valve members 16 and 17 to moveunder the action of gravity to the positions illustrated in Figure 2wherein communication between the fluid supply and distributing lines isclosed. On the other hand, when the circuit to the motor is closed, theelectro-magnetic means 18 is energized and is of sufficient strength toimmediately and simultaneously move the valve members 16 and 17 to theiruppermost position wherein communication between the reservoir andburner 10 is established. By controlling. communicatior from thereservoir to the burner with at least two valve members, as specifiedabove, flooding of the system is eliminated since, if for any reason thevalve member 16 does not seat properly, the fluid escaping thereby willbe prevented from flowing into the distributing conduit by the valvemember 17.

In detail, my improved valve assembly, as shown in Figure 2, comprises abody portion 20 preferably cast in one piece and provided with inlet andoutlet openings 21 and 22, respectively, communicating with the fluidsupply and distributing conduits 13 and 14. The body portion 20 isfurther formed with a pair of spaced chambers 23 and 24 respectivelycommunicating with the inlet and outlet openings 21 and 22 and with eachother by means of a passage 25 also formed in the body portion 20.Arranged within the chambers '23 and 24 intermediate the ends thereofare suitable valve seat members 26 and 2'7, respectively, havingrestricted passages 28 and 29 therethrough establishing communicationbetween the lower portions of the chambers and the upper portionsthereof.

As shown particularly in Figure 2 of the drawing, the valve seat member26 is disposed within the chamber 23 above the inlet opening 21 andbelow the point of communication between the chamber 23 and passage 25.The valve seat member 27, on the other hand, is arranged within thechamber 24 above the point of communication between the passage 25 andchamber 24 and below the outlet opening 22. The arrangement is such asto compel fluid flowing into the valve assembly to pass upwardly throughboth of the valve seat members permitting any foreign matter carried bythe fluid to deposit upon the bottom walls of the chambers and therebyminimize the tendency of foreign matter to accumulate upon valve seats.

As previously specified, the flow of fluid through the valve assembly iscontrolled by the gravity seatingvalve members 16 and 17. As will beapparent from Figure 2 of the drawing, the valve members 16 and 17 aremounted for sliding movement within the chambers 23 and 24longitudinally thereof and are provided with tapered lower end portionsor valve members, for engaging the seat members 26 and 27 to seal thepassages 28 and 29 therethrough. Both of the valve members 16 and 17 areof sufficient width'to insure a tight sealing engagement between thetapered end portions thereof and the valve seat members without theassistance of springs or similar means. The upper portions of valvemembers 16 and 1'? constitute valve actuating elements and areaccurately guided into engagement with the seat members by means oftubular guides 30 having the lower ends thereof sleeved within thechambers 23 and 24 and having closed upper ends projecting above thebody portion 20.

Referring now more in detail to the electromagnetic device 18 forsimultaneously actuating the valve members 16 and 17, it will beobserved from Figure 2 that this device comprises a pair of coils 33 and34 electrically connected in series by means of a conductor 35. The twoare thus ordinarily connected in parallel with the motor circuit toinsure simultaneous operation of valves and motor. 33 and 34 surroundthe magnetic valve members 16 and 17, respectively, which, like the endplates 37 and 38, are preferably made of material of high magneticpermeability. The plates extend across the ends of both coilsto reduceflux leakage. Cup-shaped members 41 and 42, also preferably made ofmagnetic material, are suitably secured to the plate 37 and closelyembrace the upper ends of tubular valve guides 30 and effectivelyshorten the air gap between plate 37 and members 16 and 17. When themotor circuit 36 is closed, the coils 33 and 34 are energized,establishing magnetic flux through a magnetic'circuit common to both ofthe valve members 16 and 1'7 in which the valve member 17 forms amagnetic return for coil 33 and valve member 16 forms a magnetic returnfor coil 34. The flux established by energizing coils 33 and 34 couplesthe valve members 16 and 1'7 together magnetically causing them to moveupwardly as a unit away from the seat members 26 and 27 therebypermitting the fluid to flow from the supply line 13 to the distributingline 14. The valve members 16 and 17 will remain in theiruppermost-positions until the circuit to the motor is opened at whichtime the electro-magnet 18 will be de-energized permitting the valvemembers to move to the positions illustrated in Figure 2 under theaction of gravity. Since the valve members 16 and 17 are mechanicallyindependent of each other, upon de-energization of the electromagneticmeans, they are free to close independently, and if a foreign par- Stillreferring to Figure 2, the coils ticle should get between one of themembers and its respective valve seat the other member will neverthelessclose and shut off communication between lines 13 and 14. 4

It is to be noted that the lower end plate 38, having a higher magneticpermeability than the valve body 20, shunts the magnetic fluxsubstantially directly from the mid-portion of one valve member to themid-portion of the other valve member and diverts or prevents the fluxleaking I through the valve tips which might cause magnetic particles toadhere to the valve tips and to interfere with the proper operation ofthe valves.

Particular attention is called to the novel combination of the two coilsenergizing a common magnetic circuit whereby the two valves are operatedsimultaneously with the same degree of reliability and approximately thesame consumption of power as has heretofore been required for a singlevalve member. In illustration the two coils being connected in seriesacross the usual 110 volt power line, have the same totalcharacteristics as a single coil connected directly across the powerline operating the conventional single valve member. The availablenumber of ampere turns is divided equally between the two coils and thecoils so inserted in the single magnetic flux circuit that the forcesproduced by each are additive. Thus even though but one coil is locatedin close proximity to its valve plunger the flux from the distant coilmust likewise flow through the same plunger insuring reliable operation.When one or both of the valve members is lifted from its valve seat,under the influence of coil 33 or coil 34, the effective air gap in thepath of the common magnetic circuit is decreased, thereby decreasing themagnetic reluctance thereof. The decrease in the magnetic reluctancewill increase the magnetic force on each of the valve members. This is avery desirable feature as it insures reliable operation of both valves.Should one of the valves stick when coils 33 and 34 are energized, thefree valve will move upwardly, and reduce the total air gap in theircommon magnetic circuit, with the result that a materially amplifiedmagnetic force is applied to the valve, which may be stuck, therebyinsuring operation thereof.

The magnetic valve operating means, specified above, is positioned uponthe top of the body portion 20 and is normally concealed by means of asuitable cover 39 of non-magnetic material removably secured in place inany suitable manner.

In order to regulate the amount of fluid discharged from the supply lineto the distributing line, I provide a regulating valve 40 illustrated inFigure 3 of the drawing. As shown in this latter figure, the valve 40 isadapted to extend within the passage 25 intermediate the ends thereofand preferably projects out of the body portion 20 so as to permit thesame to be manually adjusted.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided amagnetically operated multiplevalve unit assembly for controlling theflow of fluid from a source of supply to a point of distribution whichis not only compact and simple in construction, but is also eflicientand economical in operation.

While in describing the present invention particular stress has beenplaced upon the use of two valve members and electro-magnets in theassembly for controlling communication between a fluid supply reservoirand a point of distribution, it should be understood that the number of.valve members and magnetic actuating units therefor may be varied asfound desirable for efllcient operation and accordingly reservation ismade to make such changes as may come within the purview of theaccompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A unitary valve assembly comprising a plurality of laterally spacedindependent valve members cooperating with each other and adapted tocontrol communication between a source of fluid supply and a point ofdelivery, and means for simultaneously operating said valve membersincluding an electro-magnet having coils corresponding in number to thevalve members and associated with the latter to establish a commonmagnetic circuit therethrough.

2. A valve assembly comprising a plurality of valve members arranged inseries with each other in a fluid supply line for independently closingcommunication through said line, and an electro-magnetic devicecomprising a plurality of coils corresponding in number to the number ofvalve members and located in a common magnetic circuit for actuating thevalves in accordance with the flow of current through the coils.

3. In a valve mechanism, means providing a plurality of valve seats; aplurality of laterally spaced valve members mounted for movement towardand away from said valve seats; a plurality of elongated, magnetic,valve actuating elements operably connected to said valve members andmounted for synchronous movement therewith; and electro-magnetic meansfor causing said elements to undergo substantially simultaneousvalve-member-actuating movements, comprising at least twoelectro-magnetic coils for establishing a series magnetic circuitthrough at least two of said actuating elements.

4. Ina valve mechanism, means providing a pair 01 valve seats; a pair oflaterally spaced valve members mounted for movement toward and away fromsaid valve seats; a pair of elongated, magnetic, valve actuatingelements opersaid valve members are disposed in contact with theirseats, said elementsbeing adapted to approach said magnetizable memberwhen they undergo valve opening movements, and means, comprising a pairof electro-magnetic coils, for causing magnetic flux to take a seriespath which is common to both of said actuating elements and saidmagnetizable member, whereby valve opening movement of either one ofsaid actuating elements reduces the reluctance of said flux path.

5. In a valve mechanism, in sub-combination, a valve casing having afluid passage and a plurality of valve seats communicating with saidfluid passage; a plurality of valve members 0perably disposed in saidcasing and mounted for movement toward and away from said valve seats-for arresting fluid flow through said passage;

a plurality of elongated magnetic valve actuators operably connected tosaid valve members and adapted to undergo endwise, valve-member-

